Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Health Service, this book asks the question: should it be a celebration or a wake? The author, himself a doctor in London's East End, describes the aims and aspirations of the NHS from its conception to its present crisis and sets it in its social and political context. His analysis covers all aspects of health care, from the frustrations of patients and practitioners to the drug industry, private practice, trade unionism and government cuts. David Widgery's earlier books include "The Left in Britain" (1976), "Health in Danger" (1979) and "Beating Time" (1985).